New Wilmington microbrewery on tap for fall opening

Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 1:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 1:31 p.m.

Wilmington could get a new microbrewery and tap room by this fall in a building near the riverfront south of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

The new brewery, Waterline Brewing Co., plans to renovate space at 721 Surry St., the former Jacobi Hardware building. It will share space in the building with current occupant The Art Factory, a gallery, shop and studio space, according to Rob Robinson, a partner with Brian Bell in the venture.

"Brian and I felt there could really be some natural synergy there," Robinson said in an email. "The spaces we want to use will need some work, so we'll get started doing some basic cleaning, painting and improvements to the building infrastructure within a few weeks."

Waterline submitted plans to the city last week.

Robinson is still on active duty in the Air Force, but will be retiring soon, he said.

He said he was "very excited to be moving to Wilmington from D.C. in a couple of weeks. We're looking forward to meeting the other brewers in the area and joining what appears to be a growing trend in the city."

Several other craft breweries are open or set to open in and around the Port City.

Open are BroomTail Craft Brewing in the Dutch Square Industrial Park and Good Hops Brewing in Carolina Beach. Working toward opening are Flytrap Brewing at Fourth and Walnut streets; Good Vibes Brewing, 115 N. Second St.; and Wilmington Brewing Co., the brewing operation of Wilmington Homebrew Supply.

The city is seeking ways to encourage more small breweries to open here, including modifying some zoning requirements.

"Presently there's not even a defined use for breweries," said Wilmington senior planner Phil Prete.

The city proposes to add definitions in other zoning classes for microbreweries and small regional brewers so they could operate in more areas.

Waterline's building is zoned urban mixed-use, so it is allowed, Prete said.

The zoning proposals, to be submitted to the city Planning Commission in July, would allow breweries in districts that already allow similar uses, Prete said.

Most breweries want to have a tap room, night club or retail associated with the business, he added, so the city would impose some restrictions in areas that also have residential uses.

Robinson says he didn't choose the Port City for his business by accident.

"My wife and I fell in love with the area over the years as we have been vacationing in Sunset Beach and have friends in Wilmington," Robinson said. "It was a very good, natural fit for us."

<p>Wilmington could get a new microbrewery and tap room by this fall in a building near the riverfront south of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.</p><p>The new brewery, Waterline Brewing Co., plans to renovate space at 721 Surry St., the former Jacobi Hardware building. It will share space in the building with current occupant The Art Factory, a gallery, shop and studio space, according to Rob Robinson, a partner with Brian Bell in the venture.</p><p>"Brian and I felt there could really be some natural synergy there," Robinson said in an email. "The spaces we want to use will need some work, so we'll get started doing some basic cleaning, painting and improvements to the building infrastructure within a few weeks."</p><p>Waterline submitted plans to the city last week.</p><p>Robinson is still on active duty in the Air Force, but will be retiring soon, he said.</p><p>He said he was "very excited to be moving to Wilmington from D.C. in a couple of weeks. We're looking forward to meeting the other brewers in the area and joining what appears to be a growing trend in the city."</p><p>Several other craft breweries are open or set to open in and around the Port City. </p><p>Open are BroomTail Craft Brewing in the Dutch Square Industrial Park and Good Hops Brewing in Carolina Beach. Working toward opening are Flytrap Brewing at Fourth and Walnut streets; Good Vibes Brewing, 115 N. Second St.; and Wilmington Brewing Co., the brewing operation of Wilmington Homebrew Supply.</p><p>The city is seeking ways to encourage more small breweries to open here, including modifying some zoning requirements.</p><p>"Presently there's not even a defined use for breweries," said Wilmington senior planner Phil Prete.</p><p>The city proposes to add definitions in other zoning classes for microbreweries and small regional brewers so they could operate in more areas. </p><p>Waterline's building is zoned urban mixed-use, so it is allowed, Prete said.</p><p>The zoning proposals, to be submitted to the city Planning Commission in July, would allow breweries in districts that already allow similar uses, Prete said.</p><p>Most breweries want to have a tap room, night club or retail associated with the business, he added, so the city would impose some restrictions in areas that also have residential uses.</p><p>Robinson says he didn't choose the Port City for his business by accident.</p><p>"My wife and I fell in love with the area over the years as we have been vacationing in Sunset Beach and have friends in Wilmington," Robinson said. "It was a very good, natural fit for us."</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</p>